Gas generator



March 10, 1953 J. J. MALIR, JR 2,631,020

GAS GENERATOR Filed Sept. 1, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET l 4 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH J. MALIR Jr BY M4 9 MM A TTORNEY S March 10, 1953 J. J. MALIR, JR 2,631,020

Y GAS GENERATOR Filed Sept. 1, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 wmamxnww/swmmmwum Fig. 7

8 ]NVENTOR.

JOSEPH J. MALIR Jr.

ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAS GENERATOR Joseph J. Malir, J r., Denver, 0010.

Application September 1, 1949, Serial No. 113,499

7 Claims. (01. 261-26) This invention relate to improvements in gas generators and more particularly to those of the type in which a volatile hydrocarbon is employed, this invention also relating to generators of the general type shown in my co-pending application Serial No. 6,870, filed February 7, 1948, now Patent No. 2,539,148 of January 23, 1951, and Serial No. 77,527, filed February 21, 1949, now abandoned.

In certain rLu'al districts and small villages, on farms, industrial plants, and the like, facilities are not always available for piping combustible gas to gas stoves and other gas burning equipment. To fulfill these needs it has been customary to provide the user with tanks of compressed gas. These gases are relatively expensive and since they are usually under considerable pressure, strong and expensive tanks are required.

It has been discovered that certain inexpensive hydrocarbons, such as pentane, naphtha, and solvents, may be employed, if processed in a certain manner, to produce combustible gases which may be used in gas burning equipment such as a stove, hot water heaters, and the like.

One of the objects of the invention i to provide a novel generator unit in which all of the operative parts are associated in a manner to form a readily installable or replaceable unit for the hydrocarbon tank with which it is to be employed.

Another object is to suitably house the unit to protect it from the elements, yet render all operative parts readily accessible for adjustments, servicing, or replacement.

Another object is to provide the unit with an improved air delivery head which eliminates clogging by freezing water.

Further objects are to provide a unit which is simple in construction, economical of manufacture, compact in construction and efiicient in operation.,

Still further objects, advantages, and salient features Will become more apparent from a consideration of the description to follow, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawing, in which;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device which constitutes the subject of the invention-shown in installed position on a hydrocarbon tank buried in the ground;

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the upper portion of the unit as viewed in the direction of arrows 2, Figure 2;

Figure 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the device;

Figure 4 is a side elevation as viewed in the direction of arrows 44, Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a top plan view taken on line 5--5, i ure 4;

Figure 6 is a rear elevation as viewed in the direction of arrows 6-6, Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a section taken on line 'l--1, Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a section taken on line 8-8, Figure 4;

Figure 9 is a section taken on line 9-9, Fig. ure 1;

Figure 10 is an enlarged section taken on line Ill-l0, Figure 1; and

Figure 11 is an enlarged section through a portion of the gas delivery pipe.

Referring in detail to the drawing and more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the unit 29 which constitutes the subject of the invention is shown in its installed position on a hydrocarbon tank 2| which is buried in the ground, the operative parts of the unit being disposed on the portion above the ground and protected by a hood or cover 22 which is secured to the unit by hinges 23, a suitable lock 24 which engages any conventional type of hasp being provided to lock the hood over the unit to protect it against the weather or tampering by unauthorized persons. Suitable louvers 25 are provided in the ends of the hood to permit air circulation to and from the unit both for cooling the operative parts and for the escape of any possible leakage of gas which might enter the hood.

A tube 26 having a threaded lower end 21 (see Figure 7) engages a suitable threaded flange 28 I which is welded to the top of tank 2!. To the upper end of this is welded a rectangular plate 29, this plate serving to plug the upper end of the pipe and also provide a support for certain of the operative parts of the device. A pair ofangle iron member 39, 31 extend transversely of the longitudinal axis of plate 29, these members being secured to the plate by rubber insulating pads 32, 33, as, and 35, of well known construction, these pads having headed bolts imbedded therein and extending in opposite directions, the lower bolts securing the pads to the plate and the upper bolts securing the pads to the angle irons. Near the ends of angle irons and Si lateral angle irons 36 and 31 are provided, these angle irons being secured to angle irons 30, 3| by similar rubber insulating pads 38, 39 (see Figure '7) and similar pads 40, 4| at the other end (see Figure 3). Extending between angle irons 36, 37 are two flat plates 42, 43, these plates being secured at their ends to the angle irons by suitable studs 44, 45, and 41. The angle iron and plate construction just described forms abase for the operative parts of the machine which will now be described.

A motor 48 is secured to plates 42, 43 by rubber insulating pads 49, 50, and 52, these being similar to those previously described. A plate 53 extends between plates 42, 43, being suitably secured thereto by bolts or the like. Upon this plate is mounted an air compressor 54, which may be a rotary vane or other type, being secured thereto by any suitable bolts, this compressor being driven by the motor through a coupling 55.

The compressor 54 sucks in air through an air filter 5S and after the air has been compressed delivers it through pipe 51, rubber hose 53, piping 59, check valve 60, pipe 6|, valve 62, pipe 63, and air distributor head 64, where the air is bubbled through the hydrocarbon in tank 2!. The air distributor is disposed several inches from the bottom of the tank. Valve 62 may be controlled by a rod 65 having a handle 66 at one end thereof,

this handle being in an accessible position at one end of the unit as shown in Figures 4, and 5. Pipe 83 is welded to plate 29 where it extends through it and a coupling 61 (see Figure 7) is provided above the end of tube 26 which permits the lower end of pipe 63 to be removed from the upper end while the device is being transported for installation, thus protecting the lower end from being bent or otherwise damaged.

A fill pipe 63 also extends within tube 23 and is provided with a similar coupling 68 which permits the lower end of pipe 53 to be detached from the upper end in a manner previously described for pipe 53 and for the same convenience and protection. This pipe is provided with an elbow 76 at its upper end. A pipe 31 extends from this elbow in a direction lateral to tube 26. A vertical pipe 82 (see Figures 4 and 7) is secured to the outer end of pipe SI by an elbow or by bending the pipe, and the upper end of this pipe is provided with any type of approved valve, 83 by which connection may be made to a portable supply tank of hydrocarbon or the like.

A laterally extending vapor pipe i1 is welded to tube 2%, one end communicating with the space within the latter pipe (see Figures 1 and 6). A vertical pipe 12 (see Figures 6 and 7) is secured to the outer end of this pipe by an elbow, or by bending the pipe, and to the upper end of this pipe is connected a suitable cross connection 2'3. The upper end of cross connection 73 can rise a safety valve 74 which is adapted to blow in event the pressure in tank 21 exceeds a predetermined value. To one side of the cross con nection is connected a pipe '15 having an upwardly extending portion It, the upper end of this portion being provided with a valve ll similar to valve 83. The opposite side of cross connection i3 is provided with a'pipe '18 having an upwardly extending portion '19 to which is secured a conventional pressure responsive device 88 which is constructed 'to start the motor when the pressure in the tank falls below a predetermined value and stops the motor when the pressure in the tank reaches a certain higher predetermined value. Since pressure responsive devices of this type are well known and it forms no part of the invention per .se, details thereof are omitted in the interests of clarity.

When the tank is to be filled, a hose (not shown) is connected to vapor return pipe it, at valve '11, to the portable supply tank to permit vapor in tank 2| to return thereto, a liquid delivery hose (not shown) being connected also between the portable supply tank and valve 83.

The vapor return hose is necessary because a hydrocarbon such as pentane normally boils at the temperature at which it is maintained and loss of the vapor is not only undesirable but also dangerous because of its combustible characteristics.

Somewhat above the lower end of tube 26 a pipe 84 is welded thereto and extends laterally thereof, this pipe having a valve 85 "by which the flow of vapor from the tank may be controlled. This valve is covered with a suitable casing 86 to prevent dirt from entering the valve and'a pipe 8'! is secured to the upper end of the casing, this pipe extending upwardly through the ground and terminating adjacent plate 29. Nithin this pipe is disposed a rod 38 having a handle 89 at its upper end by which the valve may be turned, pipe 3? also serving to prevent dirt or foreign matter from entering valve 85. A pipe Sill is threadedly secured at its upper end to a pipe coupling 9| welded to plate 29 and through this pipe extends a rod 52 connected at its lower end to a float device 93, the upper end being connected to a suitable liquid level gage 9 which indicates the quantity of fuel within the tank.

In some installations, it is desired to provide more than one air distributor 64 in the tank 2!. For this purpose a branch pipe joins pipe 83 with a T connection or by welding and extends laterally through the wall of tube 25. If it be desired to supply air to a second air distributor, this pipe is connected through suitable piping to the second air distributor $4 in the same manner as previously described. Where the unit is employed only for one air distributor this lateral pipe will be plugged with a cap st, or the like.

Air distributor 64 (see Figures 1 and 1(3) is generally beil shaped, open at its bottom, and provided with spaced rows of holes which deliver air to the hydrocarbon in a generally horizontal direction. It will be observed that pipe 63 has a portion which extends downwardly a short distance into the distributor head. It has been found that with this construction water which condenses in the air, in pipe 53, freezes and falls downwardly through the open bottom of the distributor head rather than freeze and plug holes 95. The low temperature which produces freezing is caused by evaporation of the hydrocarbon when considerable gas is being used, that is, under certain conditions of high performance of the system. Apparently, when the pipe 53 ends at the top of distributor head 64, the air currents are such that the freezing takes place in the holes 95 and plugs them, but when the pipe is extended part way into the distributor head these air currents and their velocity are sufficiently different to prevent the freezing of water in holes 95.

Figure 11 illustrates a portion of delivery pipe 84, between the tank and burner. The pipe is filled fora short distance with copper wool 91, a rod 98 holding it from movement in one direction and a conical fine mesh screen holding it from movement in the other. The copper wool apparently has a catalytic action on the gas which improves its burning characteristics and the screen prevents any back-fire in pipe 84, from the burner, from passing beyond it and into the tank.

It will now be apparent that a single unitary construction is provided which contains and supports all of the essential parts of the device. It may be easily installed or replaced, there being only two connections to form, that at threaded connection 21 and the other at the end of pipe 84, and where a second air distributor is employed, a third connection at the end of pipe 95. In transporting the unit the lower unprotected ends of pipes 63 and 68 may be removed and also pipe 99, these being installed when the unit is attached to the tank 2i. The rubber insulating pads render the unit free of vibration and the hood protects all of the operative parts yet renders them accessible for adjustments or repairs. While rubber insulating pads have been illustrated it is to be understood that suitable coil springs, or the like, may be employed which serve the same purpose.

Having described this invention what I claim as new is:

1. Gas generating apparatus of the type having a tank adapte to contain a liquid hydrocarbon and having a space therein above hydrocarbon liquid level for storing a combustible gas, the improvement which comprises; a gas generator unit for the tank comprising; a vertical tube of a cross section substantially less than the minimum cross section or" the tank, means for securing the lower end of the tube to the top of the tank, an air compressor supported at the top of the tube, motor means supported at the top or" the tube operatively connected to the air con:- pressor for driving it, an air delivery pipe connected to the compressor and extending through the tube and downwardly into the tank terminating below the liquid level, a filler pipe extending through the tube, the lower end terminating within the tank and the upper end terminating outside of the tube near the top thereof, a vapor return pipe communicating with the tube near the top thereof, and a gas delivery pipe communicating with the tube adapted to deliver combustible gas from the tank, the top of said tube being closed and the bottom being in fluid communication with the space above the tank, whereby the tube may also store a portion of the combustible gas under pressure, and serving as a conduit to communicate said space with the vapor return pipe and the gas delivery pipe, the tube also serving as the sole support for all of the instrumentalities of the unit, whereby the unit may be attached or detached from the tank by said first-named means.

2. A gas generator unit in accordance with claim 1 including a pipe extending through the tube, the lower end of which supports a device responsive to the quantity of fuel in the tank, quantity indicating means near the top of the tube, and means extending through the pipe adapted to operate the indicating mean-s in response to the quantity responsive device.

3. A gas generator unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein the gas delivery pipe is provided with a valve, means enclosing the valve, operating means connected to the valve extending upwardly and terminating near the top of the tube, and means enclosing the last named means below the top of the tube.

4. A gas generator unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein the air delivery pipe is provided at its lower end with an open bottom air distributor housing having apertures in a wall thereof for delivering air to the hydrocarbon, the lower end of the air delivery pipe terminating within the air distributor housing.

5. A gas generator unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein the gas delivery pipe is filled. with copper wool in a portion thereof, and a fine mesh fire creen is disposed between the copper wool and a burner, or the like, to which gas is delivered.

6. A gas generator unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein the vapor pipe is in fluid communication, near its top, with a pressure responsive device for starting nd stopping the motor means in accordance with pressure in the tank.

I. A gas generator unit comprising; a tank having a threaded opening in the top thereof, an upwardly ranging tube, the lower end thereof threadedly engaging the opening in the tank and the upper end being plugged with a horizontally disposed plate, an air compressor supported by the plate, an electric motor supported by the plate, means directly connecting the motor and air compressor so that the latter is rotated at the same angular velocity as the former, an air delivery pipe extending through the tube, connected at its upper end to the compressor, a filler pipe extending through the greater portion of the tube and downwardly into the tank, the upper end terminating outside of the tube, a vapor return pipe communicating with the tube near the top thereof, a gas delivery pipe communicating with the tube near the bottom thereof, copper wool and a fire screen disposed in the last named pipe, a pipe extending through the tube supporting a device at its bottom adapted to respond to the level of fuel in the tank, means extending through the last named pipe connecting said device with liquid level indicating means disposed above said plate, and pipe means communicating with the vapor return pipe and a pressure responsive device, the latter being adapted to start and stop the motor in response to pressure changes in the tank.

JOSEPH J. MALIR, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,323,274 Humrichouse et a1. June 29, 1943 

